“Today, for the first time in years, Pennsylvania House members were given the opportunity to take a position on legislation to protect Pennsylvanians from gun violence, and I am overjoyed to find that we have bipartisan support for serious, research-backed policy solutions that will save lives,” Frankel said. Read more
Facility will support training for south hills firefighters Read more
HARRISBURG, May 15 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Allegheny, formally introduced her first bill today as a Pennsylvania state representative, legislation that would help communities address the problem of blighted and abandoned properties. The legislation ( H.B. 1163 ) would update current property law to allow communities to make blighted or abandoned properties subject to potential acquisition by land banks. Owners of such properties would be granted a set amount of time to make the repairs needed to reverse the designation and could appeal the designation. "In my five years as a borough council member, I saw firsthand how these neglected properties can become safety hazards and sources of frustration for communities. As a council member, however, my ability to help neighbors deal with problem properties was often limited by what the law allowed,” Salisbury said. “My goal with this legislation is to add another tool to local governments' toolboxes and help put properties back to productive use. My bill delivers a ‘use it or lose it’ message to urge property owners into action and improve communities' ability to address blight.” Salisbury said her legislation does not require land banks to acquire properties designated as abandoned and/or distressed. Read more
While the man accused of shooting and killing 11 people inside a Pittsburgh synagogue currently stands trial, members of the group Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence are hard at work pushing for stricter gun control legislation in Pennsylvania. Read more
At the end of May, the Pennsylvania House will have a final vote on four pieces of gun safety legislation. Read more
State grants awarded to Tree of Life Bible Church, Crossroads Treatment Read more
PITTSBURGH, May 10 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today that two local substance use recovery institutions were awarded state grants. Crossroads of Pittsburgh and Tadiso, Inc. each received grants of up to $400,000 to establish or expand substance use disorder services, community outreach and education to underrepresented and minority communities struggling with the opioid overdose crisis. “Countless people struggle with addiction and require assistance to get their lives back on track,” Abney said. “These grants are vital contributors to extending a helping hand to all those in need.” Allegheny County is the beneficiary of as much as $2.4 million in these grants as a whole, and the grants are facilitated by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs . Read more
HARRISBURG, May 3 – State Reps. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, and Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, said that they were proud to host Delta Day at the state Capitol on Tuesday. Delta Day is celebrated by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, which was founded in 1913 by 22 collegiate women on the campus of Howard University. Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated is one of the preeminent service-based sororities, with predominantly more than 300,000 Black members and more than 1,000 chapters worldwide. The sorority has maintained a commitment to social activism, academic excellence and civic engagement. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated has 29 chapters in Pennsylvania. On Delta Day, members from throughout the commonwealth come to the Capitol to connect with elected officials, advance legislation and serve as a voice for others. “The women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated continue to be magnificent examples of servant-leaders with their commitment to their communities,” Curry said. “That is why I introduced H.R. 100 to recognize and honor the members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated on Delta Day.” “This was the first year back after three years of meeting virtually for Delta Days in Harrisburg,” Mayes said. “It was a great opportunity for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated members to come to our Capitol to lead the conversations Read more
HARRISBURG, May 2 – Today, the Fairness Act (H.B. 300) passed out of the Pennsylvania House and is headed to the Senate for a future vote. Below is a quote that can be attributed to the co-prime sponsors of this bill: Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila; Jessica Benham, Dan Frankel and La’Tasha D. Mayes, all D-Allegheny; Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster; and Greg Scott, D-Montgomery. “Today is a historic day, as we take a critical step to make Pennsylvania fairer. The Fairness Act is as simple as it is substantive. H.B. 300 would protect LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians from facing discrimination and allow all individuals in the commonwealth to file complaints with the PA Human Relations Commission. “Now, we call on the Senate to quickly consider and pass this legislation and send it to Governor Shapiro’s desk.” Read more
One-of-a-kind event brings parents, educators, professionals and legislators together Read more
“Family members and survivors of the Oct. 27th attack live with those events every single day, and the court proceedings and media attention they generate stand to intensify those painful memories,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny. “We can’t erase the trauma for those hurting, but by wearing this ribbon, we can let them know that we stand with them and wish them strength." Read more
HARRISBURG, April 26 – State Reps. Dan Frankel and Anthony Bellmon celebrated the first serious legislative action on gun violence prevention measures in years on Wednesday, and they vowed to continue to fight for the bills to become law. “The panic that Pennsylvanians feel over gun violence soars with each tragic headline, and it has been compounded by years of inaction by a Republican-led General Assembly,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny. “Under Democratic leadership, we can finally have research-based conversations and actual votes about life-saving measures that would allow our constituents to move through their lives without fear for themselves and their children.” State Rep. Bellmon, who has worked in his own community and in Washington to combat gun violence, said the quick but deliberate work of the Judiciary Committee is heartening in view of the relentless news of gun violence impacting Pennsylvania. “The safety of our communities is of the utmost importance, and one crucial way to keep them safe is to tackle gun violence,” said Bellmon, D-Philadelphia. “These four bills being voted out of committee today is a great step in the right direction to keep Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth safe from gun violence.” The Judiciary Committee passed four bills on a party line vote Wednesday. The bills would: Require firearm owners to report the loss or theft of guns ( HB 338 ). Read more
In a victory for and celebration of Pennsylvanians of South Asian descent, the House today passed legislation that would designate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, as a state holiday, according to the bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Arvind Venkat. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 25 – As part of his ongoing effort to increase access to health care, Health Committee Chairman Dan Frankel began gathering support Tuesday for legislation that would establish teledentistry and require insurance plans to cover it. “Adults and children throughout this commonwealth are not getting the dental care they need, which sets them up for years of pain and additional health consequences,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny. “My legislation would ensure that dental providers are able to use every tool to get that care to the patients most at risk for unmet dental needs, including rural and low-income populations.” Frankel announced the legislation in an address to the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health, which brings together individuals from schools of public health, philanthropic organizations, businesses, dental organizations, health insurance firms, advocacy organizations and state agencies to advocate for improved oral health care in Pennsylvania. His memo to legislators, seeking cosponsors, can be found here . Read more
“Every single district in Pennsylvania has LGBTQ+ people living there, and many more who want to live in an inclusive and fair commonwealth.” Read more
“Pennsylvania cannot address the growing danger of hate crimes with 40-year-old laws. It’s long past time for this commonwealth to use every tool out to there to deter and identify these crimes, and to stop them before they start,” Frankel said. Read more
PITTSBURGH, April 20 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today that a $59,136 low-interest loan is being awarded to Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority . The loan will be utilized to fix more than 56 miles of collection lines in the sewer system. “Raw water sewage overflow is a major concern for the neighbors I represent during rainy weather,” Abney said. “This project helps mitigate that issue and reduces the amount of spillage into the three rivers.” Nearly 99,500 customers are served by the system. Read more
STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: DEI in the Building and Construction Trades Grant (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Organizations that serve as sponsors or intermediaries of Registered Apprenticeship and/or Pre-Apprenticeship in the building and construction trades. Use : To develop diverse talent pipelines and reach underrepresented populations within the building and construction trades. Funds : $1 million in total program funding. Application Deadline : April 26, 2023 More Information : Click on https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Workforce-Development/grants/Pages/default.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT): Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Program (Funding Source: State, Federal, & Private Funding) Who May Apply : Private companies. Use : To develop innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across a variety of modes including roads, bridges, rail, aviation, and ports. Funds : Varies by award. Application Deadline : April 30, 2023 More Information : Click on https://www.penndot.pa.gov/ProjectAndPrograms/p3forpa/Pages/default.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Youth Reentry Grant (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Read more
“The testimony we heard today highlighted the fact systemic racism and gender-based bias play a major factor in Black maternal mortality,” said hearing co-host Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, who represents portions of Allegheny County. “Today’s hearing amplified the message that Black mamas and birthing individuals need to be heard." Read more
PITTSBURGH, April 13 – State Reps. Aerion A. Abney and Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, announced today that a state grant of as much as $500,000 will be awarded to Allegheny County for the establishment of a regional recovery hub spearheaded by Unity Recovery on Pittsburgh’s South Side. The funding will allow the recovery hub in Allegheny County and in counties across the Commonwealth to conduct an initial needs assessment for recovery support services in their specific region, including an estimate of individuals in need of these services and an analysis of their availability and accessibility. In addition, the hubs will develop a strategic plan, partnering with local organizations, that focuses on the importance of supporting multiple pathways to and through recovery, and will seek to promote recovery services in areas including peer support, family support and self-care. “Addiction is not a circumstance easily overcome by one individual’s own willpower,” Abney said. “These funds are essential to providing needed assistance for all those looking to turn their lives around for the positive.” “Substance use – especially opioid use – has devastated communities across the commonwealth, and South Pittsburgh is certainly no exception,” Benham added. “This is a public health crisis, and I applaud the Shapiro-Davis administration for embracing harm reduction strategies and investing in these recovery Read more
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